STEM Scholars Program

Gettysburg College’s STEM Scholars Program seeks to increase and diversify the number of talented STEM majors who go on to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in a broad range of scientific endeavors.

The STEM Scholars Program consists of a select cohort of first-year students who intend to earn a bachelor’s degree in one of the following STEM disciplines: Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Through generous financial support from Gettysburg College, need-based financial aid grants meet the full demonstrated need for all STEM Scholars. In selecting members of these cohorts, the college takes a heightened interest in first-generation students who are academically promising and have demonstrated financial need.

Apply for STEM ScholarsExplore our STEM majors, minors, and programs

Support for STEM Scholars

By providing supportive mentoring during the crucial first two years of college, the STEM Scholars program creates a constructive environment to recruit, support, and retain students in their chosen STEM majors. The program relies on close faculty-student interactions as well as a unifying community-building experience.

STEM Scholars will have the opportunity to:

  • Attend a STEM-focused pre-orientation workshop with their cohort;
  • Enroll in an exclusive First-Year Seminar taught by STEM faculty;
  • Access assigned laptops for exclusive use;
  • Take part in community-building activities on and off campus; and
  • Engage in various STEM opportunities, including faculty-student research, peer-mentoring, preferential residence in Gettysburg College’s Science House, as well as work-related internship opportunities with institutional industry partners.

Program Eligibility

To be eligible for the STEM Scholars program, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a U.S. citizen, national (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), alien admitted as a refugee (under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act), or an alien lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence.
  • Demonstrate financial need through submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile forms.
  • Be enrolled as a full-time student.
  • Major in one of the following programs: Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies (BS only, with an interest in one of the following concentrations: Earth System Science, Marine and Freshwater Ecology, or Wildlife and Conservation Biology), Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Program Application Requirements

  • You should complete the STEM application online by the deadline of the admissions round for which you are applying: November 15 for Early Decision 1, December 1 for Early Action, or January 15 for Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision. 
  • Submit your completed application for admission. This includes the Common App, your official high school transcript, and recommendations from a counselor and a teacher. A letter of recommendation from a science teacher is also strongly encouraged. You may also submit your standardized test scores.
  • Submit the financial aid applications—the CSS Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—by the deadline of the admissions round for which you are applying.
  • Students who are highly interested in Gettysburg College and the STEM Scholars Program are encouraged to consider applying via Early Decision.

Contact

For more information, contact Associate Director of Admissions Tyra Crosbie ’17, via email at tcrosbie@gettysburg.edu.